Hydrogen titanate and TiO2 nanowires as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

We demonstrate a simple and rapid approach to the synthesis of hydrogen titanate and TiO2 nanowires. The as-prepared materials are characterized by XRD, SEM, TG-DTA, ICP, EDS and electrochemical measurements. SEM images show that the precursor and as-prepared materials are chestnut-like morphology composed of aggregations of nanowires. XRD patterns of the precursor and as-prepared materials indicate that we can get different nanostructured materials by calcining the precursor at the different temperature. Owing to the novel, special and open layered nanostructure, the obtained lepidocrocite hydrogen titanate nanowires show the best cycling capacities and high-rate cycling stability. The initial discharge capacities are 781, 440, 405, 319, 282 and 194 mA h g(-1) at the current densities of 20, 100, 200, 400, 1000 and 2000 mA g(-1), respectively. After 50 cycles, the as-prepared hydrogen titanate nanowires electrodes retain 103.54% and 97.82% of its initial charge capacities at the current densities of 1000 and 2000 mA g(-1), respectively.